The ASTSWMO Alternative Fuels Workgroup developed this document to serve as a resource for State and Territorial underground storage tank (UST) program staff, UST owners and operators, and contractors and consultants for the evaluation of equipment compatibility pursuant to EPA’s compatibility requirement (40 CFR Part 280.32) when storing biofuels. For the purpose of this document, the terms “biofuel” and “biofuel blends” are interchangeable and can be understood to mean either pure or blended biofuels.
This document includes links to informational resources created and maintained by other public and private organizations. The ASTSWMO Alternative Fuels Workgroup does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of links to particular items in hypertext is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed or products or services offered by the author of the reference or the organization operating the server on which the reference is maintained.
This document also includes case summaries highlighting possible examples of incompatible equipment on UST systems storing biofuels. All site-specific information provided in these summaries were prepared by individual State Tanks programs and provided to ASTSWMO for use in this compendium. ASTSWMO is not responsible for any of the information provided in the enclosed case summaries.
Ensuring UST systems are made of or lined with materials that are compatible with the biofuels stored can reduce the risk of releases due to material incompatibility. This document is intended to improve awareness and focus attention on the importance of an equipment compatibility evaluation prior to the storage of biofuel blends, and the management of water in these storage tank systems. Updates of this document are envisioned to be prepared periodically as new information becomes available.
